Interior mounted cover having a breathable membrane for a roof ventilator

ABSTRACT

A ventilation opening closure to close off a standard opening in a support structure such as a roof or wall includes a base and a cover plate. The base comprises a base ring, a seal ring between the base ring and the support structure, and a bevel-shaped seal ring to align and seal the cover plate with the base ring. The closure includes a pair of complementary hinges so that the closure can be opened to the right or to the left. Alternatively, rather that the second hinge, the closure may include a latch means to more quickly shut the closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Related Application

[0002] Reference is hereby made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,996 entitled INTERIOR-MOUNTED COVER FOR ROOF VENTILATIOR, filed Jan. 31, 1997, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] 2. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to the field of roof-mounted ventilators and, more particularly, to an interior-mounted cover having a breathable membrane for a roof ventilator.

[0005] 3. Description of the Related Art

[0006] A single-family dwelling commonly has a ventilator mounted on the roof to permit air-flow into and out of the dwelling, usually from an attic or other space. The ventilator opening often has a roof-top wind turbine installed over it, and there is commonly a screen across the opening to keep debris from falling into the ventilated space.

[0007] In inclement weather, it is desirable to close off the ventilator. For example, during heavy rain or high wind, one may wish to isolate the inside space from the outside. Without such a closure means, water and extreme cold can enter the ventilated space. In colder climates, it is desirable to retain heat inside, for example, an attic space while still permitting moisture to escape. It is also preferable to provide access to the closure means from inside the house, so that the homeowner does not have to get out into the elements and onto the roof of the house to close off the ventilator. It is also preferable that the closure be simple and inexpensive, as well as easy to install.

[0008] The need to close off ventilation openings has been long recognized in the art. However, most closure means have been included as a part of the ventilation apparatus and are not easily adaptable to a previously installed ventilator as a retrofit. Other closure means, although they may be modified to serve as a retrofit, are inflexible in that they are often difficult to fit within the interior structures on which they are to be installed.

[0009] Thus, there remains a need for a simple and inexpensive ventilation closure that can be installed on any standard ventilation opening on a dwelling. The closure should be easy to operate in a variety of interior structures, and provide options to the user on modes of operation.

[0010] The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention addresses these and other shortcomings of the prior art. The closure of the present invention comprises primarily a base and a cover plate. The base describes a solid ring, mounted to the underside of a ventilation opening with a sealing gasket between the base and the structure to which it is mounted, such as a roof structure. The base ring is sufficiently wide to accommodate a number of standard size ventilation openings. The base may be mounted to the structure with a plurality of wood screws or other appropriate mounting means.

[0012] The base further includes a seal ring on its underside. This seal ring provides positive closure when the cover plate is secured, and further provides alignment of the cover plate to the base. This feature reduces the need for close tolerances in the manufacture of the structure of the present invention.

[0013] The cover plate is preferably mounted to the base by a pin for a hinge joint. A similar pin/hinge joint is provided on the opposite side of the structure so that the closure is adapted to be operated from either side. Alternatively or in addition, a snap-hinge closure may be provided to secure one side of the cover plate to the base.

[0014] In one illustrative embodiment, the cover plate includes a frustoconical interior shape to mate with a bevel-shaped seal ring. This feature improves the sealing and alignment feature of the closure. As an optional feature, the cover plate includes a handle on the underside of the plate to facilitate opening the cover plate after being closed for an extended period of time.

[0015] These and other features of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art from a review of the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a side, partial-sectional view of the ventilation closure of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 1a is a plan view of a seal ring mount to which the cover plate illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2a, and 3 may be coupled in the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 1b is a side view of the ventilation closure having a bevel-shaped seal ring in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 1c depicts a partial section view of a detail of the bevel-shaped seal ring illustrated in FIG. 1b.

[0021]FIGS. 2 and 2a depict side and section views, respectively, of the cover plate illustrated in FIG. 1; and

[0022]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cover plate having a breathable membrane that forms a part of the present invention;

[0023] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0025] Referring now to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 depicts a ventilation closure 10 of the present invention. The ventilation closure 10 comprises primarily a base including a base ring 12 and a cover plate 14. The base ring 12 is mounted to a support structure 16, such as a roof or other structure, by a plurality of screws 18, or other appropriate means, through flange members 20. Between the base ring 12 and the support structure 16 is a seal ring 22, preferably of a compressible polymeric material to provide a water-tight seal around the base ring 12.

[0026] Extending from the base ring 12 is a first hinge mount 24 and a second or complementary hinge mount 26. Each hinge mount 24 and 26 preferably comprises a pair of flat plates, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a. Each flat plate has a hole therethrough to receive a pin 28. The pins 28 serve to secure the cover plate 14 to the base ring 12. A screen (not shown) may be used to keep debris from falling through the opening in the structure 16 to be closed by the closure 10.

[0027] The base ring 12 further includes a seal ring 30. The seal ring 30 is also preferably made of a compressible polymeric material to positively seal the cover plate 14 over the base ring 12. The seal ring 30 may be implemented with a bevel-like cross section which provides enhanced sealing area and, more particularly, aligns the cover plate 14 with the base ring 12 in the closed position, as will be described more fully below. FIG. 1b also illustrates the bevel shape of seal ring 30 that may be used with this illustrative embodiment.

[0028] Although the seal ring 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1b as having a bevel-shape, it should be appreciated that the shape of the seal ring 30 may be varied as a matter of design choice. For example, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the seal ring 30 may be flat. However, for ease of illustration, the seal ring 30 will be described hereafter as having a bevel-shape.

[0029] The various components of the base described thus far (except for the screws 18) are preferably made as a unitary structure for ease of installation. For ease of manufacture, the base ring 12 may be made of a durable molded plastic, such as by injection molding, and the seal ring 22 and the bevel-seal ring 30 glued to it. The various parts of the closure may also be made of any other appropriate material that will endure in the anticipated environment, such as aluminum or other corrosion resistant material.

[0030] The unitary structure feature of the base is shown in further detail in FIG. 1c. With this illustrative example, the seal ring 30 is constructed having a bevel-shape, and a bevel-shaped projection 31 from the base ring 12 is covered with a relatively thin seal material 33, which is itself made of a compressible polymeric material. This alternative structure provides the advantage of a solid structure backing to receive the compression and alignment forces to align and seal the cover plate 14.

[0031] As described for FIG. 1, mounted to the base ring 12 by the pins 28 is the cover plate 14. FIG. 2 depicts a side view of an illustrative cover plate 14 that may be coupled to the base ring 12. FIG. 2a depicts a section side view of the cover plate 14 illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2a, the cover plate 14 includes a frustoconical seat 32 that seals in abutting engagement with the bevel-shaped seal ring 30 when the plate is closed against the base ring 12. Again, it should be appreciated that seal ring 30 and cover plate 14 may be implemented in a variety of mateable shapes that facilitate the sealing of the cover plate 14 with the seal ring 30. For example, as described above, the cover plate 14 may include a flat seating surface (not shown), which in turn would mate with a corresponding flat sealing ring (not shown). In short, the shape or particular design of seal ring 30 and cover plate 14 may be dictated by any number of factors, such as the requirements of a particular application, manufacturing process, and the like.

[0033] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 1a, projecting from the cover plate 14 is a first hinge plate 34 and a second or complementary hinge plate 36, which are capable of mating with the first and complementary hinge mounts 24 and 26, respectively. As described so far, the base ring 12 and the cover plate 14 are secured together with a pair of pins 28 to form hinges on either side. Either one pin 28 or the other may be removed to open the closure, so that the closure can swing to the right or to the left, as desired. This feature is advantageous where the closure may be installed in a variety of interior structures.

[0034] Although not shown, a handle may be advantageously fixed to the cover plate 14. The handle may be used to assist with opening and closing the cover plate with respect to the base ring 12. In one illustrative embodiment, the cover plate 14 includes two handles, one near each hinge plate 34, 36. With this embodiment, a handle will be available for use regardless of which hinge plate 34, 36 is used to attach the cover plate 14 to the base ring 12. It should also be appreciated, however, that the handle may be fixed to any portion of the cover plate 14 and that the location, configuration, materials, etc. may be varied as a matter of design choice.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, a plan view of the cover plate 14 is shown. In this illustrative embodiment, the cover plate 14 includes a breathable membrane 38. The membrane 38 is designed to form a barrier against wind, rain, and other weather related elements, while simultaneously permitting moisture to pass. Preferably the membrane 38 is comprised of a breathable material that is still capable of forming a substantial barrier against wind and water, while also reducing heat loss from the area being enclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, the membrane is comprised of GORE-TEX® fabric manufactured by W. L. Gore & Associates Inc.

[0036] In a residential application, where mold growth is of particular concern, the membrane 38 may be used with the ventilation closure 10 to reduce heat loss from an attic and still allow for the venting of moisture. In short, the membrane 38 allows an attic or other enclosure to be closed off from inclement weather without contributing to the buildup of excess moisture. During summer months, the cover plate 14 may be opened to allow for the venting of both heat and moisture.

[0037] In FIG. 3, the membrane 38 is shown covering a substantial portion of the cover plate 14. It should be appreciated that the moisture venting capability of the ventilation closure may be increased by maximizing the surface area of the membrane 38. Even so, the configuration and/or surface area of the membrane 38 may be varied as a matter of design choice. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, the surface area of the membrane 38 may be reduced to increase the rigidity of the cover plate 14. In yet another illustrative embodiment, the membrane 38 may take on a checkerboard pattern.

[0038] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.

[0039] What is claimed: 

I claim:
 1. A ventilation opening closure to close off an opening in a support structure, the closure comprising: a. a base including: i. a base ring; ii. a first seal ring to seal between the base ring and the support structure through which the ventilation opening penetrates; iii. a second seal ring on the base ring opposite the first seal ring; b. a cover plate including: i. a seat to mate with the second seal ring; ii. a breathable membrane capable of closing off the support structure from inclement weather while simultaneously permitting moisture to vent through the opening; c. a first hinge for coupling the base to the cover plate.
 2. The closure of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of flange members extending from the base ring to secure the base ring to the support structure.
 3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the first hinge includes: a first hinge mount extending from the base ring; and a first hinge plate extending from the cover plate, wherein the first hinge plate is capable of being hingedly mated to the first hinge mount using a pin.
 4. The closure of claim 3 wherein the base ring and the first hinge mount are formed as an integral unit.
 5. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a second hinge, wherein the first and second hinge are alternatively selectable for hingedly attaching the cover plate to the base ring.
 6. The closure of claim 5, wherein the second hinge is positioned opposite the first hinge.
 7. The closure of claim 5, wherein the second hinge includes: a second hinge mount extending from the base ring; and a second hinge plate extending from the cover plate, wherein the second hinge plate is capable of being hingedly mated to the second hinge mount using a pin.
 8. The closure of claim 1, wherein the second seal ring has a bevel-shaped cross section and the seat of cover plate has a frustoconical shape to mate with the bevel shape of the second seal ring.
 9. The closure of claim 8, wherein the second seal ring comprises a bevel-shaped projection molded as an integral part of the base, and wherein the projection is covered with a compressible polymeric material.
 10. The closure of claim 1, wherein the breathable membrane closes off the support structure from inclement weather by forming a thermal barrier that retains heat inside the support structure while simultaneously permitting moisture to vent through the opening.
 11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the breathable membrane is comprised of GORE-TEX®.
 12. A method of closing a ventilation opening through a support structure, the method comprising the steps of: a. mounting a base around the ventilation opening, the base including: i. a base ring; ii. a first seal ring to seal between the base ring and the support structure through which the ventilation opening penetrates; iii. a second seal ring on the base ring opposite the first seal ring; b. coupling a cover plate to the base with a first hinge, the cover plate having a seat to mate with the second seal ring; and c. closing the cover plate against the second seal ring and securing the cover plate to the base, wherein the cover plate includes a breathable membrane capable of closing off the support structure from inclement weather while simultaneously permitting moisture to vent through the opening.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second seal ring includes a bevel-shaped cross section, and the seat of the cover plate has a frustoconical shape that mates with the seal ring when the cover plate is secured to the base.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising venting moisture through the breathable membrane of the cover plate while forming a thermal barrier that retains heat inside the support structure.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the breathable membrane is comprised of GORE-TEX®.
 16. A ventilation opening closure to close off an opening in a support structure, the closure comprising: a. a base including: i. a base ring; ii. a first seal ring to seal between the base ring and the support structure through which the ventilation opening penetrates; iii. a second seal ring on the base ring opposite the first seal ring; b. a cover plate including: i. a seat to mate with the second seal ring; ii. a breathable membrane capable of closing off the support structure from inclement weather while simultaneously permitting moisture to vent through the opening; c. a first hinge for coupling the base to the cover plate; and d. a second hinge for coupling the base to the cover plate, wherein the first and second hinge are alternatively selectable for hingedly attaching the cover plate to the base ring.
 17. The closure of claim 16, wherein the first hinge is positioned opposite the second hinge.
 18. The closure of claim 16, wherein the breathable membrane closes off the support structure from inclement weather by forming a thermal barrier that retains heat inside the support structure while simultaneously permitting moisture to vent through the opening.
 19. The closure of claim 16, wherein the second seal ring has a bevel-shaped cross section and the seat of cover plate has a frustoconical shape to mate with the bevel shape of the second seal ring.
 20. The closure of claim 16, wherein the breathable membrane is comprised of GORE-TEX®. 